GS1100 runs out of fuel

[ChrisM]

I have a GS1100L that was built into a café bike. It has an original vacuum type fuel petcock and original carbs with pod filters. At times the bike will simply run out of gas. When you come to a stop and wait the carbs will eventually refill and you can ride. If the bike sits it may start fine but you never know when the issue will happen again. Any thought will be helpful.

Chris M.

[Nessism]

Purchasing a new factory Suzuki petcock is a good place to start.

Have the carbs been rejetted properly to account for the pods?

[bccap]

I had something similar happen with my 750. When I stopped quickly the engine would die but it would start right up. A few months later my petcock failed and I ended up with gas in the oil so I was forced to replace it. When I did it solved the stalling issue.........

[BigD_83]

It's a relatively simple system...gas in must equal gas out, or you either flood, or get fuel starved. Either way, the problem is more likely to be on the tank (petcock) side of the carburetor. Collapsed/blocked fuel line, failing (to open) petcock being the two most likely scenario.

As Ed mentioned, a mismatch between fuel delivery and fuel needs could lead to fuel starvation, but I would think you'd notice that more often than just occasionally.

[JTGS850GL]

Might also be the gas cap is not venting properly. Next time it happens, quickly open the gas cap and see if you hear a vacuum sound. If so, try riding it without the gas cap installed.

[BigD_83]

Might also be the gas cap is not venting properly. Next time it happens, quickly open the gas cap and see if you hear a vacuum sound. If so, try riding it without the gas cap installed.

Always forget about that one.

Also inside the tank...there should be a filter that sits on top of the petcock, and it can clog up with fine particles of rust.

[tom203]

Check your petcock for correct operation.

Try this... remove both lines from petcock: get some clear vinyl tubing that fits snugly on petcock vacuum fitting. In "on" and "res" fuel,show flow when you suck on this tubing- otherwise it should not. Any signs of fuel in the tubing means the petcock diaphragm is likely leaking.maybe just when bike is running but maybe at alltimes.

Look for a good flow of fuel in "on"

[AMK]

Does it have an in line fuel filter? If so that may slow fuel flow.

[steve murdoch]

I wanna see a pic of the cafe'd L.....please.

[Steve]

I wanna see a pic of the cafe'd L.....please.

Be patient.

He's a newbie, probably does not realize that this is a fast-moving forum, where you can get a dozen answers in a few hours (or much less).

.

[robertbarr]

Does it have an in line fuel filter? If so that may slow fuel flow.

You beat me to it. Most (all?) of the petcocks have an in-tank screen. I had an '82 GS850 that had identical symptoms; a screen-ectomy solved the problem 100%.